The role of clinical imaging in oncology drug development: progress and new challenges

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Medical Imaging
• Drug Development

Background:

• A 2008 review highlighted the use of clinical imaging in oncology drug development, focusing on structural measures and early functional techniques.
• Challenges included standardization and consistent analysis of imaging data across study centers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the evolution of clinical imaging in oncology drug development over the past decade.
• To assess how advanced imaging methods can be translated into routine clinical trial tools.
• To identify needs for effective implementation of a broader imaging toolset in clinical trials.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature and practices in clinical imaging for oncology drug development.
• Analysis of the integration of advanced imaging techniques (functional, metabolic) into trial phases.
• Identification of challenges and opportunities for imaging in modern drug development.

Main Results:

• Imaging in oncology drug development has expanded beyond structural measures to include functional and metabolic assessments.
• State-of-the-art imaging methods show potential for routine use, but require further validation and standardization.
• Effective implementation necessitates addressing challenges in data consistency and analysis.

Conclusions:

• Clinical imaging plays a vital and evolving role in oncology drug development.
• Continued innovation and collaboration are crucial for leveraging advanced imaging to deliver new cancer medicines.
• Industry-academic partnerships are essential for coordinating efforts and advancing imaging technologies in clinical trials.